Declaration of Independence Paraphrased

The Declaration of Independence

paraphrased into Modern English

In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

Sometimes, during the development of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to destroy the political bond that has connected them with another people. It becomes necessary for this people to take on a distinct and equal position that the Laws of Nature and the God of Nature entitles them to. When that happens, decency and a respect for the opinions of mankind require them to state the reasons that induce them to separate.

We believe the following truths are so obvious that they're undeniable and unquestionable: We believe that all men are created equal, that their Creator has given them inherent fundamental rights that include [but are not limited to] the right to Life, the right to Liberty, and the right to seek happiness. We believe that governments are decreed among men in order to guarantee these rights, and that governments receive their just and fair authority only with the consent of those who are governed. We believe that whenever any form of government ceases to protect those rights, the people have the right to change it or dissolve it and to set up a new government, and to base it on whatever principles, and organize its authority in whatever form, that they think will be the most likely to result in their safety and happiness. It's only prudent and sensible to recognize that a long-established government should never be changed for frivolous and short-term reasons. In fact, experience has shown that mankind is more willing to suffer for as long as misery can be tolerated, than to make things better by dissolving the form of government that they've been used to. But when a long list of abuses and confiscations, which always seek the same goal, demonstrates a scheme to reduce the people under absolute tyranny, it is the people's right -- in fact, it is their duty -- to throw off that government and set up a new system to guard their future security. We believe that the colonies have patiently suffered under just such a situation. And that is why they are obliged to change their old systems of government. The actions of the current king of England tell a tale of repeated abuse and misappropriation, all with the goal of establishing an absolute tyranny over our states. In order to prove this, we submit the following facts to an impartial world:

The king has refused to approve of laws that are beneficial and necessary for the good of the public.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws that are urgently and immediately needed, unless those laws are suspended until his approval is granted. And even while those laws are suspended, he has completely neglected to even consider them!

He has refused to pass laws suitable for governing large areas of people unless those people give up their right to be represented in the Legislature. Representation is vitally necessary for them, and is a right that only a tyrant would fear.

He has set up legislative meetings at bizzarre and uncomfortable locations that are far away from the collections of public documents [that would be needed at such meetings] for the sole purpose of wearying our legislators into compliance.

He has repeatedly dissolved [fired] our Representative Houses simply because those representatives bravely opposed his attacks on the rights of the people.

After dismissing our representatives, he has delayed the electing of new representatives. Since the need to make laws doesn't go away just because the king removes our legislators, the people at large have had to make up their own laws. Meanwhile the colonies are exposed to the risks of invasion from foreigners, and disturbances from within.

The king has tried to prevent people from populating the states. He has done this by obstructing the laws made to naturalize foreigners, by refusing to pass other laws that would encourage people to come here from England, and by making conditions for getting land grants more difficult [by signing the Royal Proclamation of 1763].

He has obstructed the provision for justice by refusing to approve of laws that establish a judicial system.

He has made judges dependent on his own will, because he is the one who determines whether they get to keep their positions, and he decides the amount of their salaries and how they'll get paid.

He has created a multitude of new positions and sent swarms of officials over to harrass our people and consume our goods.

Even during peacetime, he has kept standing armies among us without the approval of our legislatures.

He has taken actions to make the military independent of our civil authority, and superior to it. [England appointed a British military general to govern Massachusetts in 1774.]

He has joined others to put us at the mercy of an administration that is contrary to our constitution and is unrecognized by our own laws. He has approved of the phony laws that Parliament has inflicted on us.

He has housed large groups of armed troops among us.

By using a fraudulent trial [forcing them to be tried in England], he has protected his troops from being punished for any murders they commit while they're here in our states.

He has cut off our trade with the rest of the world.

He has demanded taxes from us that we never consented to. [Taxation without representation.]

He has deprived us, in many cases, of the benefits of a fair jury trial.

He has shipped our citizens overseas to be tried for falsified offences.

He has dissolved the free system of English Law in a neighbouring province [Quebec], set up an arbitrary government there, and enlarged its borders to make it an example and a ready channel to introduce the same despotic government into our colonies.

He took away our charters [specifically, altered the charter that William III had granted to Massachussetts Bay], did away with our most useful laws, and radically changed the forms of our governments.

He discontinued our own legislatures [the 1766 Declaratory Act] and gave his own appointees the authority to make laws for us in any and all cases.

He has relinquished his right to govern us because, instead of protecting us, he has waged war against us.

He has ransacked our seas, destroyed our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

Even at this very time, he is shipping large armies of foreign mercenaries [German Hessian soldiers] to finish off the death, devastation, and tyranny that have already begun with incidents of cruelty and treachery that are unparalleled even in the most barbaric ages. That makes him completely unworthy to lead a civilized nation.

He has forced our fellow citizens who were captured at sea to take up weapons against their own country by giving them the choice to either fight with the British soldiers and kill their own friends and family, or be killed themselves.

He has stirred up domestic insurrections amongst us [by offering freedom to slaves who would fight on the British side], and tried to provoke the merciless Indians who live on our frontiers against us. These Indians' rule of warfare is to indiscriminately kill people of all ages, genders, and conditions.

During every stage of our oppression, we have pleaded for justice in the most humble terms, but our repeated petitions have been answered with nothing but repeated abuse. A ruler whose character is distinguished by the kinds of actions that define a tyrant isn't fit to govern a free people.

We have not neglected to communicate with the people of England. We informed them periodically of attempts by their legislature to extend unreasonable authority over us. We reminded them of the circumstances of our journey and settlement here. We appealed to their British sense of justice, and their humanitarianism. We begged them by the bonds of our common lineage to oppose these misappropriations which would unavoidably sever our connections and disrupt our correspondence. But they, too, have ignored the call for justice and brotherhood. Therefore, we must reluctantly accept their condemnation of us for separating from England, and consider them, like we consider the rest of the world, enemies in war, but friends in peacetime.

Therefore, we, the Representatives of the United States of America, being assembled in General Congress, appeal to the Supreme Judge of the world for the uprightness of our intentions. In the name of the good people of the colonies, and by their authority, we solemnly publicize and declare that these united colonies are -- and rightfully ought to be -- independent states. They are exempt from all allegiance to the British Crown. All connection between the colonies and the country of Great Britain is and should be cancelled. As free and independent states, the colonies have full authority to wage war, establish peace, negotiate alliances, set up commerce, and do all other acts and things that independent states have the right to do. To support this Declaration, we firmly rely on the protection of divine Providence, and we jointly pledge to each other our lives, our worldly goods, and the honor we hold sacred.

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There is a copy of The Declaration of Independence in its original language with annotations citing the events referred to in each listed grievance, and items in the Constitution that resulted from these events. Pdf file.